Stoker control apparatus



July 22, 1952 H. 1.. HANSON S TOKER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Feb. 28 1949 IIO SHUT DOWN INVENTOR.

HENRY HANSON /fia'yxfi v w TEMPERATURE ATTORNEY Patented July 22, 1952 STOKER CONTROL APPARATUS Henry L. Hanson, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Application February 28, 1949, Serial No. 78,850

14 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with automatically controlling the operation of the stoker for stoker fired furnace.

More particularly, the present invention is concerned with a control apparatus which will automatically control a stoker associated with a stoker fired furnace to maintain a desired temperature in a space and at the same time insure a combustion maintaining fire in the furnace regardless of the demand for heat in the space where the temperature is being controlled. In devices of the present type it is desired that a holding or maintaining fire always be burning in the furnace so that, upon a subsequent demand for additional heat in the space it is only necessary to add additional fuel and air to the furnace. With such an arrangement it is also desired that the furnace temperature be kept under a. predetermined maximum value and, further, that the stoker be rendered inoperative whenever the fire within the furnace is too low to maintain combustion so as to prevent the adding of additional fuel to the furnace when there is insufficient fire to ignite it.

It is therefore an object to provide new and improved control apparatus for maintaining a desired temperature in a space and which will at the same time maintain a desired fire temperature in the furnace.

A further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved control apparatus which will render a stoker inoperative whenever the temperature of the stoker fire exceeds a predetermined high value or is less than a predetermined low value.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a condition controlling apparatus utilizing an electrical network having condition sensing impedances therein, with one of the impedances being directly exposed to a condition of a condition changing means; another of the impedances being responsive to a different condition representative of a condition of the con dition changing means, and relay means controlled by the network to actuate the condition changing means whenever there isa predetermined differential between the impedances of the network.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a condition control apparatus utilizing an electrical network whose voltage output is indicative of the condition to be controlled and providing therewith sensing means which includes an electrically operated relay and a pair of control devices which are operative to render the relay inoperative whenever the electrical condition of the network exceeds predetermined limits.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide control apparatus including a network circuit, a'relay for energizing a condition changing means, and a pair of electronic control devices, one of which is operative when the differential of the values of a pair of impedances of the network circuit is less than a predetermined amount and the other of which is operative when the differential between the impedances is greater than a predetermined amount, either of said electronic control devices, whe operating, maintaining the relay means inoperative.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent upon considering the accompanying specification,v claims, and drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of one form of the present control apparatus, and;

' Figure 2 shows graphically the operating relation between the control impedances of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 1, the numeral ill represents a furnace supplied with coal and air by a stoker II, or other suitable burner, furnace l0 being used to supply heat to an enclosed space by a distributing system, not shown. The presence and magnitude of combustion within the furnace I0 is determined by a sensing element l2 having an inner portion extending into the combustion chamber of the furnace and having a temperature sensitive resistance wire associated therewith and wound on the portion of the element extending outside of the combustion area, the impedance l 3 thus responding to a temperature lower than but proportional to the temperature inside said combustion chamber. The sensing element I2 is supported in the fire door of furnace H] by a pair of insulating members IZA and HE. These are so arranged upon the element l2 as to minimize the heat conduction between the furnace door and the element 12. Thus, the temperature sensitive resistor 13 is not exposed to the full direct heat of the fire but is able to respond with reasonable accuracy to the intensity of the fire. Fora more complete disclosure of element [2, reference ismade to copending application of Joseph Donna, Serial No. 77,474, filed February 21, 1949, now Patent No. 2,583,293. Obviously, element [3 may be direct- 1y exposed to the furnace fire or may be otherwise arranged to respond to fire temperature.

The need for heat from furnace ill is determ ned'by a thermostatic device 14 located in a representative portion of the enclosed space heated by said furnace and wherein it is desired to maintain a constant temperature. This thermostatic device I4 is conventional and comprises a bimetallic member I5 which is operative to move a pair of contacts I6 and I1 into and out of engagement in accordance with the changes in temperature of said space. The bimetal I5 of thermostat I4 is also influenced by a heater I8 arranged to be energized when contacts I6 and I1 are in engagement.

Thermostat I4 controls stoker II by influencing the balance conditions of a network circuit 22 which in turn controls electronic apparatus 23. The components of circuit 22, with the exception of resistor I3, and the electronic apparatus 23 are preferably assembled to form a unit 26, conveniently referred to as electronic relay unit or amplifier 20.

When the temperature of the enclosed space decreases, the contacts I6 and I1 will close and will control suitable circuits within a housing 26. The circuits in housing 26 in turn will cause energization of the stoker II.

The electrical network 22 is energized by a transformer 24 having a primary winding 25 connected to a suitable source of power and a secondary winding 26 tapped at '21, tap 21 constituting an output terminal for network 22 and the two portions of secondary winding 26 constituting elements of the network. The end terminals. of the secondary winding 26 are connected to the other elements of the network including acalibration rheostat 28, a pair of terminals connected to the fire temperature sensing impedance I3, and a further temperature sensitive resistor 29. A terminal 95 between resistors I3 and '29 is the other output terminal for the circuit 22. Resistor 29 is arranged in heat exchange relation with asuitable heater 30 adapted 'to be energized by a portion of the secondary winding 26 through a circuit completed through .the thermostat I4. "The heater 30 and temperature sensing-resistor 29 are positioned in an enclosure SI and this-enclosure may be either insulated or constructed with sufficient mass for storing heat over a period of time.

The output terminals of the network 22 are connected to the electronic apparatus 23, this apparatus including electron discharge devices 35, 36, and 31. The discharge device com prises an anode 38, a control electrode 39 and a cathode 46; device 36 comprises an anode 4|, a control electrode 42 and a cathode 43, and the device 31 comprises an anode 44, a control electrod 45 and a cathode 46. Apparatus 23 is energized by a transformer having a primary winding 5| connected to the'commcn source of power and a plurality of secondary windings 52, 53, 54 and55. Winding 52 supplies the anode voltages for the devices '35 and 36, and winding 53 supplies current to'the series connected filament heaters 56, 51 and 58 of devices 35, 36 and 31, respectively. When these heaters are encrgized, the associated cathodes of their respective discharge devices will becom electron emmissive and will pass current in the usual manner. The windings '54 and are used'tosupply operating voltages'for device31.

Grid 39 and cathode'46 of discharge device-35 are connected together by grid resistor 66 and the input circuit of discharge device 31 includes both resistor 59 and resistor 6I. The anode 36 of device '35 is'connected to grid 42 of device 36 and is also connected to'cathode 43 of device 36 through a network 62 comprising a resistor 63 and a condenser 64 connected in parallel. Anode 4| of device 36 is connected to winding 66 of relay 65, said relay including a switch arm 61 engageable with contact 68 when winding 66 is energized. A by-pass condenser 69 is connected across relay winding 66.

Anode 44 of discharge device 31 is connected through winding 54 of transformer50, a network 19 and isolating resistor 14 to the grid 42 of discharge device 36, said network 10 including potentiometer H and condenser 12. Also, an isolating resistor 13 is connected between the input circuit of device 31 and cathode 43 of device 36.

Operation In considering the operation of the subject apparatus, consider first the operation when thermostat I4 responds to a temperature at or above its set point and contacts I6 and I1 are open. Under these conditions, it is desired that only a maintaining or holding fire be kept burning within the furnace ID. If the thermostat contacts have been open for a considerable time, the heater 39 will be at ambient temperature, therefore the resistor 29 will be at the ambient temperature of unit 20. The resistance ofthe resistor 29 at ambient temperature is graphically shown by point on the temperatureresistance curves shown in Figure 2. The solid line 8| shows the relation of temperature and resistance of the resistor 29 as it is heated by heater 30. Lines 62, 63 and 34 represent the critical resistance values of the resistor I3 at which it effects operation of the control apparatus.

Assuming that the resistance of resistor I3 is that shown at point upon the out off line 82, network22 will be unbalanced sufficiently to cause the discharge device 35 to be conducting.

Assuming a phasing of the-secondary winding for particular half cycles with the lefthand end being negative and the right hand end being positive, the balance of the network 22, with the resistances as shown in Figure 2, will be such that the upper network terminal will be only slightly negative with respect to the tap 21 on secondary 26. This voltage is exerted across resistor 66 by a circuit traced from the terminal 95 through conductor 96, resistor 60, and conductor 91 back to the tap 21 and is applied to the input of device 35 because the upper terminal of resistor 66 is connected to the control electrode 39 by a conductor 98, the lower end of the resistor 66 being connected to the cathode 40 by a conductor 99. With the secondary 26 phased as shown, and assuming an alternating current phasing of secondary 52 such that its upper terminal is positive with respect to the lower terminal, the discharge device 35 will be passing a small amount of current depending upon the magnitude of the slightly negative voltage applied to the control electrode 39. When there is a current flowing through the discharge device 35 there will be an output voltage in the output B be negative. The upper terminal of network 62 is connected to the cathode 43 of discharge device" 36 by conductors I02 and IOI, while the ing so that the-re will be no current flowing through relay winding 66 in the output circuit of this discharge device. With relay 65 deenergized there is no eflective energizing circuit for stoker II, and the apparatus will be in the deenergized condition shown in the drawing.

As the fuel in the furnace is gradually consumed, the temperature of the fire will decrease and, likewise, the temperature and resistance of resistor I3 will also decrease by a corresponding amount. This decrease in resistance results in network 22 becoming further unbalanced, with terminal 95 becoming more negative with respect to terminal 21, when the secondary is phased as shown. With this more negative voltage on terminal 95. the more negative voltage applied to the input of discharge device 35 will cause said device to stop conducting. At the point when discharge device 35 is no longer conducting, the resistance of the resistor I3 will be that shown at 86 on the cut on line 83. Since the discharge device 35 is no longer conductive, there will no longer be a voltage built up across the network 62 and therefor no biasing voltage on the input of discharge device 36, so this device will now start conducting. The conducting circuit may be traced from the lower terminal of secondary 52 through conductor I04, relay winding 66, anode 4|, cathode 43, and conductor I06 back to the upper terminal of secondary 52.

With suflicient current flowing through the relay winding 66, switch blade 61 is pulled into engagement with contact 68 to complete an electrical circuit, shown by the arrows I06 and I01, to the stoker II. With the stoker l I energized, fuel and air will be fed into the furnace I and, if the operation is normal, the fire in the furnace will increase in temperature, followed by an increase in temperature and resistance of element I3. After a period of operation of the stoker, the resistance of the resistor I3 will increase to a value represented by the point 85 on the cut off line 82. As mentioned above, as soon as the resistance of element I3 reaches the value represented by point 85 in Fig. 2, the balance of the electrical network 22 will be such that the dis-.

charge device 35 will be conductive and will bias the discharge device 36 sufliciently to make it nonconducting. When the device 36 is no longer conducting, the relay 66 is deenergized and the switch blade 61 drops out of engagement with contact 68 and opens the energizing circuit to the v stoker I I. v

The above discussed operation will continue as long as the stoker fire is operating normally and there is no demand for stoker operation by the thermostat I4. Thus, as discussed above, the control apparatus is maintaining a sufficient level of combustion or temperature within the furnace to insure that a maintaining or holding fire is always present.

Assume now that operation of the furnace becomes abnormal due, for example, to exhaustion of the coal supply. With the fire dying out, the temperature within ,the furnace will decrease as will the temperature and resistance of the resistor I3. As soon as the resistance'of re- "fuel is being supplied to the furnace.

sistor I3 has decreased to a point represented by point 86 on the cut on line 83 in Figure 2, the :network 22' will be unbalanced sufliciently to make the discharge device 35 nonconducting so that the'device 36 will become conductive and energize the stoker control relay 65, as previously described. However, if the fuel supply for the stoker has been exhausted, or if the fuel being supplied is not capable of being burned, the temperature within the furnace I0 will continue to "decrease and at a somewhat accelerated rate because of the fact that cold air and possibly cold After a time, the temperature will have dropped to such a value that the resistance of resistor I3 will be represented by point 81 upon the shutdown" curve 84. When the resistance of element I3 has reached this particular value, it is desired that the entire apparatus be shut down to prevent the further operation of the stoker. The continued decrease in temperature of the resistor I3 results in the balance of the network 22 becoming more negative than described above.

As yet, no consideration has been given to the operation of discharge device 31 and its connecting circuits. Neglecting for the moment the output from network 22, it will be seen that normally the discharge device 31 is inoperative because its cathode 46 is biased to be slightly positive with respect to its control electrode 45 by secondary winding 55. The phasing of winding 55 is the same as that of the winding 54, the latter of which is connected to anode 44 of device 31. As'thus arranged, device 3'! will be nonconducting and there will be no output current flowing through the network I0.

Considering now that network terminal 05 is highly negative with respect to tap 21, it will be noted that the control electrode 45 of device 31 is connected to the tap'2I of network 22 through conductors 91, 99 and I06. The cathode 46 is connected to the output terminal through conductors 96, 68 and I09, resistor 6|, winding 55, and conductor IIO. Thus, the output voltage of the network 22 is applied to the discharge device 31 in such a manner that the control electrode 45 is connected to the positive terminal of the network while the cathode 46 is connected to the negative terminal of the network assuming the phasing shown upon the drawing.

With a large enough positive voltage applied to the control electrode 45, this voltage will overcome the fixed alternating current bias from the secondary winding 55 and the discharge device 3! will become conductive. The conductive circuit for this discharge device may be traced from the upper terminal of secondary winding 54 through conductor III, anode 44, cathode 46,

conductor IIO, winding 55, conductor II 2, netbe positive At least a portion of the voltage drop across the network I0 is applied to the input of discharge device 36 by the following circuits. The left hand terminal of the network 10 is connected to the cathode 43 of discharge device 36 negative portion of the network 10 by a circuit traced from the slider of the potentiometer II through resistor 14 and conductor I I5 to the control electrode". With a negative voltage thus applied to the control electrode 42. the device 36 will no longer be conducting and cannot energize the stoker control relay 65. Thus, the stoker ting down the stoker keeps the furnace from filling up with unburned fuel.

Assume now that the thermostat l4 cools and bimetal l5 moves contact l6 into engagement with contact ll. This completes an electrical circuit from the right hand terminal of secondary 26 through heater 30, conductor H6,,heater l8, bimetal i5, switch contact l6, switch contact I! and conductor Ill back to tap 21 on secondary 26. With this circuit completed, heater 30 begins to rise in temperature, and the increase in temperature will be applied to resistor 29. As the temperature of resistor 29 increases, its resistance also increases, and this will unbalance the network 22 in the same direction as will the cooling of resistor [3 due to less fire in furnace l0. With an increase in resistance of resistor 29, the network 22 will become unbalanced in a direction to cause the discharge device 35 to become nonconducting so that the output of this device will be ineffective to bias the device 35 to be nonconducting. Then, with discharge-device35 conducting, the resulting current flow energizes relay 65 and causes operation of stoker H by circuits previously traced.

The operation of stoker H causes an increase in temperature in the furnace It due to the additional fuel and air being supplied thereto. With the temperature of the fire in the furnace increasing, and with resistor 29 now at a higher temperature, it will be seen'that the stoker will operate until the resistance differential between resistors l3 and 29 becomes less than apredetermined amount. Thus, for example, if the temperature of the element 29 has reached a point on the temperature line 92, in Figure 2, the resistance of element 29 will be represented by the point as on the line 8|. Then, to stop stoker I I, itis necessary that the resistance of element l3 be at or above the value represented by point 89 on the out off curve or line 82. This cut off point is at a temperature considerably higher than the cut off point represented by point 85, which was effective when the resistor 29 was at ambient temperature.

'fairly uniformly and this temperature, deter-- mined by thepercentages of on and off'time of heater 3% and shown by line 8| in Figure 2, is

representative of the load demand on the system. Thus, the effect of an increased load on the system is an increase in the control point of the network, thereby requiring higher cut off and cut on temperatures for element l3 than was the case when resistor 29 was at ambient temperature.

Assuming a particular average temperature condition and resistance of resistor 29, represented by point 88 on line 8| in Figure 2, the

critical control points of the network are those .shown by the intersection of line 92 withthe cut off line 82, the cut on line 83 and the shut down line 84. From this, it is seen that when the resistance of element I3 is represented by point 89, the control network 22 will have an electrical balance such that .the discharge device 35 will be conducting and the device 36 will be nonconducting. Under these conditions, relay 65 cannot energize stoker ll. When the temperature in furnace ID has decreased so that the resistance of element [3 is now represented by the point 90.0nthe "cut on line 83, the balance of the electrical network 22 will be such as to make the discharge device 35nonconducting, hence device 36 will conduct and energize relay 65, and thereby energize stoker ll. With stoker H operating, the temperature in the furnace Iii will increase until such time as the resistance of resistor 13 has again changed to the point 89 upon the cut off" line 82, whereupon relay 65 will again be deenergized.

In the event that the fire should become extinguished for any reason, even though thermostat M is demanding heat, the temperature of the furnace will decrease and, after a time, the resistance of resistor 13 will cool to the point where its resistance will be as shown by point 9| on the shut down line 84. When this occurs, the discharge device 3'! will become operative and will apply a negative voltage to the control electrode .42 of discharge device 35 so that the discharge device 36 will no longer energize the control relay 65 and thus stop the stoker.

Obviously, for different load demand conditions, the temperature of the resistance element 26 will change in accordance with the amount of heat applied thereto by the heater 30 as it is energized by the cyclically operating thermostatic device. l4.

Should contacts I6 and ll of thermostat l4 remain continuously closed, due to a heavy heating load or the like, the circuit to the heater 3%] will be continuously energized. However, the temperature of heater 3!] cannot go above a predetermined value. determined by the characteristics of the heater and its energizing circuit. Thus, with heater 3O continuously energized, the resistor 29 will tend to reach a fixed maximum temperature, represented by the line 93 in Figure 2. With this maximum temperature, the resistance of the element 29 will be, for example, represented by the point 94 on the curve Bl. The critical resistances for element l3 will then be determined by intersection of line 93 with the out 011" line 82, the out on line 83 and the "shut down line 84. When the resistor 29 is at its maximum temperature the present apparatus will tend to maintain the stoker fire at a relatively high temperature such that the temperature of element l3'will vary along line 93 and the resistance of the element I3 will vary between the intersection of line 93 and the cut off line 82 and the cut on line 83. Any tendency for the furnace fire to go above a temperature suflicient to raise the temperature and resistance of element l3 above its maximum cut off value will cause the system to deenergize the control relay 65 and stop the stoker I I.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a control apparatus for a stoker fired furnace which utilizes an impedance network for controlling the energization of a control relay and which apparatus provides for maintaining a desired stoker fire temperature as well as space temperature by utilizing a single 9 control relay. The apparatus further provides for shutting down the stoker whenever the fire in the furnace is not capable of maintaining combustion or shutting down the stoker whenever the furnace' temperature has reached a predeterminedsafe maximum. While a specific embodiment of the invention is shown, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made within the scope of the invention and therefore the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Control apparatus for a burner for a furnace, comprising in combination, electrical impedance means for sensing the temperature within the furnace, a relay adapted to control energization of the burner, electronic amplifying means interconnecting said impedance means and said relay to eifect energization of said relay in accordance with the temperature of said impedance, and electrical circuit means directly interconnected between said impedance means and said amplifier means for rendering said amplifying means ineffective to energize said relay when the temperature within said furnace drops below a predetermined value.

2. Control apparatus for a stoker fired furnace, comprising in combination, electrical impedance means for sensing the temperature conditions of the stoker fire, a relay adapted to con trol energization of the stoker, electronic amplifying means interconnecting said impedance means and said relay to eifect energization of said relay in accordance with the temperature of said impedance, and further electronic amplifying means directly interconnecting said impedance means and said first named amplifying means'for rendering said first named amplifying means ineffective to energize said relay when the temperature of the stoker fire drops below a predetermined value.

3. Control apparatus for a stoker fired furnace, comprising in combination, electrical impedance means for sensing the temperature condition of the stoker fire, a relay adapted to control energization of the stoker, electronic amplifying means interconnecting said impedance means and said relay to effect energization of said relay in accordance with the temperature of said impedance, said means comprising an electron discharge device having an anode, cathode and control element, and further electronic means connected between said discharge device and said impedance means to cause said control element to assume a potential with respect to said cathode to render said device inefiective to energize said relay when the temperature of the stoker fire drops below a predetermined value.

4. Control apparatus for a furnace, comprising in combination, electrical impedance means for sensing the temperature within said furnace, said impedance means varying its impedance value with changes in temperature, a relay adapted to control energization of said furnace, a first electron discharge device connected to said impedance means so that the conductivity of said device is controlled by the impedance of said impedance means, a normally conducting second electron discharge device having an input connected to said first discharge device and which input assumes a voltage dependent upon the conductivity of said first discharge device, means connecting said relay means in the output of said second discharge device, electrical circuit means includingsaid first discharge device rendering said second dischargeineffective to energize said relay when the temperature of said impedance is such that its impedance'is of a first value and not affecting said second discharge device when the'temperature of said impedance is such that its impedance is of a second value, and further electrical circuit means including said impedance means when the temperature thereof is such that its impedance is of a third value connected to said second discharge device to render said second discharge device ineffective to energize said relay. 7

5. Control apparatus for a stoker fired furnace, comprising in combination, electricalimpedance means responsive to a temperature indicative of the temperature conditions of the stoker fire, said impedance means yarying its impedance value with changes in temperature, a relay adapted to control energization of the stoker, a first electron discharge device con-' nected to said impedance means so that the conductivity of said device is controlled by said impedance means, a normally conducting second electron discharge device having an input con nected to said first discharge device and which input assumes a voltage dependent upon the conductivity of said first discharge device, means connecting said relay means in the output of said second discharge device, means including said first discharge device rendering said second discharge ineffective to energize said relay when the temperature of said impedance is such that its impedance is of a first value and not affecting said second discharge device when the temperature of said impedance is such that its impedance is of a second value, eelctronic means connected to the input of said second discharge device, and means including said impedance means and said electronic means for rendering said second discharge device ineffective to energize said relay when the temperature of said impedance is such that its impedance is of a third value. a

6. Condition control apparatus, comprising in combination, a condition sensing network adapted to have'an impedance means connected thereto and which impedance means varies with the magnitude of a controlled condition, a control relay adapted to effect operation of condition changing means when energized, a first impedance device whose impedance varies in accordance with the voltage on a control electrode thereof, said device having said relay connected in circuit therewith and normally conducting sufiiciently to maintain said relay energized when said control electrode has no voltage thereon, second and third impedance devices whose impedances vary in accordance with the voltage on the control electrodes thereof, means connecting said network to the control electrodes of said second and third impedance devices, output circuits for said second and third devices, means connecting the electrode of said first impedance device to said output circuits, said output circuits rendering said first device ineffective whenever either of said second or third devices is operative, and means including said network for rendering said second device operative when the controlled condition deviates in one direction from the desired value and rendering said third device operative when the controlled condition deviates in the opposite direction from the desired value.

7. Control apparatus for a stoker fired furnace,

comprising in combination, an electrical impedance network adapted to have a first impedance element thereof exposed to the stoker fire to be controlled, said network having a second impedance whose impedance varies with load demand, a heating element for said second impedance, said heating element adapted to be energized by means including a thermostatic switch which is exposed to the temperature of a space whose temperature varies in accordance with the temperature of the stoker fire, and electrical sensing means connected tosaid network adapted to energize or deenergize the stoker in accordance with the effect said impedances have upon said network.

8. Control apparatus for a stoker firedfurnace, comprising in combination, an electrical impedance network adapted to have a first impedance element thereof'exposed to the stoker fire to be controlled, said network having a second impedance whose impedance varies with load demand, a heating element for said second impedance, said heating element adapted to be energized by means including a thermostatic switch which is exposed to the temperature of a space whose temperature varies in accordance with the temperature of the stoker fire, and electrical sensing means connected to said network adapted to energize or deenergize the stoker, said sensing means comprising electronic amplifying means energizing a control relay and means for rendering said amplifying means inoperative whenever the impedance differential between said first and second impedances becomes greater than a first value or less than a second value.

9. Control apparatus for a stoker fired furnace, comprising in combination, an electrical impedance network adapted to have a first impedance element thereof exposed to the stoker fire to be controlled, said network having a second impedance whose impedance varies with load demand, a heating element for said second impedance, said heating element adapted to be energized by means including a thermostatic switch which is exposed to the temperature of a space whose temperature varies in accordance with the temperature of the stoker fire, and electrical sensing means connected to said network adapted to energize or deenergize the stoker, said sensing means comprising electronic amplifying means energizing a control relay, and a pair of control discharge devices for rendering said amplifying means inoperative when the impedance differential between said network impedances is greater than a first value or less than a, second value.

10. Control apparatus for a stoker fired furnace, comprising in combination, an electrical impedance network adapted to have a first impedance element thereof exposed to the stoker fire to be controlled, said network having a second impedance whose impedance varies with load demand, a heating element for said second impedance, said heating element adapted to be energized by means including a thermostatic switch which is exposed to the temperature of a space whose temperature varies in accordance with the temperature of the stoker fire, and electrical sensing means connected to said network adapted to energize or deenergize the stoker, said sensing means comprising electronic amplifying means energizing a control relay, anda pair of control discharge devices for rendering said amplifying means inoperative when the impedance differential between said network impedances is greater or less than a predetermined amount, one of said devices being operative when the impedance differential between said impedances is 12 less than a first predetermined amount and the other of said devices being operative when the said impedance differential is greater than a second predetermined amount.

11. In a control for a burner for a furnace, the combination comprising, an electrical network having a pair of temperature sensing impedances connected to vary the balance of said network, one of said impedances being adapted to be exposed to the burner fire and the other of said impedances having a heating element directly associated therewith in fixed relationship, an energizing circuit for said heater adapted to be completed by a thermostatic switch which is sensing temperature in a space whose temperature is being controlled, said thermo static device energizing said heater upon a need for an increase in space temperature, and electrical sensing means connected to said network and adapted to energize the burner, said sensing means being operative to energize the burner when said heater has caused the differential between said pair of impedances to be greater than a first predetermined Value and to deenergize the burner when the burner fire temperature causes the differential between said pair of impedances to be less than a second predetermined value.

12. In a control for a stoker fired furnace, the combination comprising, an electrical network having a pair of temperature sensing impedances connected to vary the balance of said network, one of said impedances being adapted to be exposed to the stoker fire and the other of said impedances having a heater element directly associated therewith, an energizing circuit for said heater adapted to be completed by a thermostatic switch which is sensing temperature in a space whose temperature is being controlled, said thermostatic device energizing said heater upon a need for an increase in space temperature, and electrical sensing means connected to said network and adapted to energize the stoker, said sensing means comprising electronic amplifying means having a control relay in circuit therewith, and a pair of electronic control devices for rendering said amplifying means inoperative when the impedance differentials between said network impedances lie outside a predetermined range.

13. In a control for a stoker fired furnace, the combination comprising, an electrical network having a pair of temperature sensing impedances connected to vary the balance of said network, one of said impedances being adapted to be exposed to the stoker fire and the other of said impedances having a heater element directly associated therewith, an energizing circuit for said heater adapted to be completed by a thermostatic switch which is sensing temperature in a space whose temperature is being controlled,

said thermostatic device energizing said heater being operative when said differential is less' than a predetermined amount and the other .of-

13 said pair when said differential is greater than a predetermined amount.

14. In a control for a stoker fired furnace, the combination comprising, an electrical network having a pair of temperature sensing impedances connected to vary the balance of said network, one of said impedances being adapted to be exposed to the stoker fire and the other of said impedances having a heating element directly associated therewith, heat storing means surrounding said heater and said other impedance, an energizing circuit for said heater including a thermostatic device having a heater therefor which is capable of changing the temperature of said device by an amount greater than the operating differential of said device, said thermostatic device periodically energizing said heater at a rate dependent upon space temperature so that the temperature of said other impedance is maintained at a value indicative of load demand, and electrical sensing means connected to said network and adapted to energize 14 the controlled stoker whenever the temperature of the stoker fire as indicated by the temperature of said one impedance deviates from a value determined by the temperature of said other impedance.

HENRY L. HANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

